Back to days of Mubarak? Egypt’s police clash with activists as protest law takes effect

Police clashed with protesters in Egypt’s capital of Cairo as hundreds of activists came out to defy the new law banning public gatherings of more than ten people. Teargas and water cannons were fired as security forces enforced the new legislation.

Protesters chanted "down, down with military rule,” as
some 20 people were arrested, Reuters quoted the state news
agency as saying.

Hundreds of people gathered in central Cairo on Tuesday for a
fresh protest against the restrictive new law. Adopted on Sunday,
the legislation grants the Interior Ministry the right to ban any
kind of protests of over ten people taking place without police
approval.

Protesters were hit within moments of coming onto the streets,
RT’s Bel Trew reported from Cairo. “It certainly feels like we
moved to a new era here in Egypt. People were fired on by teargas
and water cannons, and heavily beaten within moments of coming to
the streets to protest in defiance of this particular piece of
legislation,” she reported.

“They were rounded up and among the dozens who were arrested
including sixteen women. This sparked uproar across the country.”

Security officials responded to Tuesday’s arrests, saying that
protesters were not given permission for the gathering and were
warned of that fact. The military-backed government is arguing
that it simply wants to restore order to the streets.

"We are implementing the new protest law that requires
protesters to seek permission from the Interior Ministry three
days before the protest," a police official said.

Human rights groups have criticized the law, stating that it is
anti-democratic. "(The) new protest law gives security forces
free rein," Amnesty International said.

RT’s Trew added that Egyptian activists feel as though the
country has turned back the clock to the days of Hosni Mubarak’s
rule, “when these kinds of rallies were swiftly moved from the
streets by the security forces who were given the carte blanche
to use violence to move people on.”